Tributes for Hyde from near and far

From the county's top leaders to a constituent touched by a personal letter, hundreds of people took time Friday to remember Henry Hyde.

The 83-year-old Republican congressman died Nov. 29.

During his 32 years in Congress, Hyde held powerful positions including chairman of the International Relations and Judiciary committees.

But George Johnson of Park Ridge attended Hyde's funeral Mass at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in St. Charles because the congressman reached out to him once.

When Johnson's wife was suffering from cancer, he called up the 6th District office and asked a secretary if a note could be sent to her on behalf of Hyde.

"He hand-wrote the sweetest card," Johnson recalled. "It said, 'My prayers are with you.' "

Martha and the Rev. Don Kretzschmar of Wheaton had two reasons to attend.

Don Kretzschmar knew Hyde through his support of Marklund, an organization that helps people with disabilities. Hyde obtained funding for the group's administrative offices named in his honor at Marklund at Mill Creek in Geneva.

Martha Kretzschmar was Hyde's physical therapist. "He was a gentleman who used humor a lot," she said.

Ron Petrucci of St. Charles didn't know Hyde personally but came to pay his respects because "I hear he was fair to people," he said. "He didn't talk out of both sides of his mouth."

The guests included about 40 congressmen and two former Cabinet officials, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Edward Derwinski.

"He kept abreast of current events and he'd talk about why the Cubs didn't win the pennant," said Derwinski, who served with Hyde in Congress.

Despite a week of storms, numerous mourners flew in from all parts of the country.

Brian Callaghan came from Boston to honor his high school friend's father. Callaghan was living in Washington in the 1970s and befriended young Tony Hyde. He was a frequent guest at the Hydes' Washington home.

"The dinners were amazingly entertaining. There were inside stories and scoops," Callaghan said.

Hyde "adored his kids and vice versa. At that time we were all in high school when you couldn't get far away enough from your parents. Tony couldn't get close enough," Callaghan said.

Raymond Smietanka, a former counsel to the Judiciary Committee, traveled from Michigan to pay his respects.

"When you heard him speak, even if you disagreed with him you would reconsider your position," Smietanka said.

Hyde, a longtime Wood Dale resident, was a beloved figure among DuPage political leaders.

DuPage County Clerk Chris Kachiroubas spent years sharing space with Hyde in his Addison district office.

"Whether he was in front of a microphone or eating a Big Mac, he was the same person," Kachiroubas said.

Former Republican Senate President James "Pate" Philip of Wood Dale said Hyde's legacy was of a "constitutional authority who believed in the rule of law."

DuPage County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom called it a sad time but "it's also a day to celebrate a life well lived."